Former Army catcher Schuyler Williamson spent last summer fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball.It was an experience he will never forget. But Williamson felt something else calling him during all those long bus rides in the minors. It was the U.S. Army.
Williamson knew deep in his heart he was born to be a soldier. Not a ballplayer. So Williamson has traded in his uniform for fatigues and left the Detroit Tigers' organization.
"I love to play baseball," said Williamson, who last spring became the second West Point graduate granted an early release from active duty by the Army. "But it kind of clicked last summer that I had to help people. I want to be a soldier and I know I can be a good leader. I want to do my part and help lead soldiers."My husband and I used to watch Schuyler play home games for Army. We're lucky to have young men and women like him serving our nation.Williamson's perspective on baseball, life and the U.S. Army changed after his younger brother, Nicholas, 21, served a 14-month tour in Iraq with the Army reserves. He returned last February.
"That's when I took the Army personal," Williamson said. "My brother saw a lot of things over there. I don't want to get into it, but soldiers are dying, people are dying. I want to go over (to Iraq) and save lives. I know I could do some good over there."
Detroit drafted Williamson in the 26th round (780th pick) of the 2005 first-year major league draft. He batted .203 (13-for-64) with six RBI in 25 games with the Tigers' Class A New York-Penn League affiliate in Oneonta.
Detroit officials expected Williamson to return this season.
Under Army's early release program, West Point athletes in any sport who sign a pro contract can serve two years active duty and six in the reserves upon graduating.
Army athletes previously served a five-year military commitment. Williamson, a second lieutenant, has served almost a year active duty and has four remaining. On March 14, he will report to Fort Hood, Texas, with the 1st Cavalry Division. The division has been frequently deployed to Iraq and is expected to return within a year.
"I want to go over (to Iraq) and save lives. I know I could do some good over there."
I'm a little worried about this guy's attitude. Being a soldier isn't about helping people. Being a soldier is about KILLING PEOPLE AND BREAKING THINGS. Now, as long as the right people are being killed and the correct objects are being broken, things are swell.
On the other hand, maybe this guy's mindset might make it easier to win the trust and support of local Iraqis, thus decreasing the likelihood of the wrong people being killed. That would be good, too.
Oh, I'm pretty sure Schuyler knows about killing people and breaking things. He also knows that his service will help to keep civilians here and in Iraq safer, which is how I took his comment.
I don't remember his branch ... if it was ordnance disposal, the comment applies very directly (IED detection/removal). But ditto for all the combat branches and many of the support branches.
I'm struck too by the fact that it was his brother's enlisted service that made up his mind to go. He is trained as an officer -- bad officers get troops killed unnecessarily but good ones help to make any sacrifice one that is worthwhile and which advances the mission.